American Bar Association

Definition

The American Bar Association (ABA) is a professional organization for lawyers and law students in the United States, founded in 1878. It plays a significant role in setting academic standards for law schools, formulating ethical codes, and advocating for the legal profession. The ABA's resources, including various publications and reports, are invaluable for assessing the authority and reliability of secondary legal sources, which can be critical in legal research and practice.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ABA has over 400,000 members, making it one of the largest professional associations in the world.
2. The organization publishes various legal materials, including law journals and practice guides, which serve as important secondary sources for legal research.
3. The ABA is influential in the accreditation of law schools, ensuring that they meet specific educational standards necessary for the practice of law.
4. The ABA's Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants provides support for legal aid programs that help ensure access to justice for all individuals.
5. Through its various initiatives, the ABA also addresses current legal issues such as diversity, inclusion, and access to justice within the legal profession.

Review Questions

• How does the American Bar Association influence the reliability of secondary sources used in legal research?
  • The American Bar Association plays a crucial role in establishing standards for legal education and practice, which in turn affects the reliability of secondary sources. By publishing guidelines, ethical codes, and various legal materials, the ABA sets a benchmark that legal professionals and researchers can rely on when citing or utilizing secondary sources. The credibility of these sources often stems from their connection to an organization with a long-standing reputation for upholding quality and ethical standards in the legal profession.
• In what ways do the Model Rules of Professional Conduct contribute to evaluating secondary sources' authority within legal research?
  • The Model Rules of Professional Conduct established by the ABA provide a framework that helps assess the integrity and ethical considerations of secondary sources. When evaluating these sources, researchers can check if the authors or organizations align with these rules, thus ensuring that the information adheres to recognized ethical standards. This alignment adds a layer of credibility to secondary sources, making them more authoritative in supporting legal arguments or practices.
• Evaluate the impact of the American Bar Association's accreditation on law schools and its implications for secondary source reliability in legal research.
  • The ABA's accreditation process significantly influences law schools by enforcing rigorous academic standards, which ultimately enhances the quality of education provided to future lawyers. This accreditation ensures that law schools produce graduates who are well-equipped with knowledge and skills relevant to current legal practices. Consequently, secondary sources developed by faculty or affiliated professionals from accredited institutions are typically viewed as more reliable because they reflect higher educational standards. This relationship strengthens their utility in legal research as credible references that can be confidently cited.

Related terms

Legal Ethics: The set of principles governing the conduct of legal professionals, often outlined by organizations like the ABA to ensure integrity and professionalism within the legal field.

Model Rules of Professional Conduct: A set of guidelines established by the ABA to provide a framework for ethical legal practice and to govern lawyer behavior across jurisdictions.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE): Programs mandated by the ABA for practicing lawyers to maintain their legal knowledge and skills through ongoing education.